WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Canyon Lake Little League assistant coach Steve Nolan knows his team will be the underdog when it takes the field today against Tampa's Citrus Park Little League.

But being the underdog is a role the Midwest Region champs have relished through its run to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

"I think all the coaches think there are some good teams here," Nolan said following a pair of 30-minute workouts at the World Series stadiums on Thursday. "So far, the boys, whether underdog or not, they don't know it. They are not going in expecting much other than to play the best they can. But we have relished playing the underdog when people are overlooking us."

Canyon Lake plays in the first game of the World Series, facing Citrus Park in Pool B play at noon MDT at Volunteer Stadium, where about 25,000 people are expected.

Nolan said Thursday's workouts at Volunteer and Lamade stadiums were a chance for the team to get the "wow factor" out of the way.

"We are trying to keep them focused as much as we can," Nolan said. "How they are going to handle that crowd and the big stadium, that's going to be a challenge we as coaches are going to try and not let affect them."

Canyon Lake will not only have to deal with the large crowd and the TV cameras, but also with a good Florida team in the other dugout.

"We know it is going to be a challenge against Tampa," Nolan said. "We know we have a pretty good task ahead of us."

The Southeast Region champs advanced to the World Series when Wyatt Reid hit two home runs, including the blast that capped an 11-0 Southeast Region Championship game victory over Westside Little League from Mobile, Ala.

"They are probably the favorite coming into (the tournament)," Nolan said. "Tampa's No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 hitters look strong, particularly No. 3 through No. 5. They hit with some power."

Teams from Florida have never won the Little League Baseball World Series, but have played in the World Series 20 times and reached the World Series Championship eight times.

Meanwhile, this is South Dakota's first-ever trip to the Series. And while the players, and coaches, are happy to be among the final 16 Little League teams left standing, they are not content to 'just be there.'

"Once they step on the field, they are there to play the game of baseball and represent South Dakota," Nolan said.

While Florida is among the favorites to win the tournament, according to Nolan, the rest of the teams that comprise Pool B will be no walk in the park. Shelton National Little League, from Shelton, Conn., and Waipio Little League, of Waipahu, Hawaii, round out Canyon Lake's opposition in Pool B.

"We stack up pretty well. Our defense is strong, but when you are looking at kids of this age you never know what can happen," Nolan said. "Our pitching can hit spots and we've been getting timely hitting, if we can keep that up, we stack up pretty well.

"We would like nothing more than for Connecticut, Hawaii and Florida looking at each other thinking we won't give them much of a game," Nolan said.

The Little League World Series consists of 16 teams - eight from the United States, and eight from other countries. The 16 teams are divided into two brackets, the United States Bracket and the International Bracket. Each team is then randomly assigned to one of two "pools" in their respective bracket.

In the opening days of the tournament, each team plays everyone else in their pool, a total of three games. The top two teams in each pool then advance to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals advance to play in either the United States or International Final on Aug. 23. The U.S. champion and the International champion then advance to the Little League World Series Championship Game, which is played Sunday on ABC.

"We want to put on a good performance for Rapid City, the state of South Dakota and the region," Nolan said.